• 28 January 2010

I love planning birthday parties with my kids. I really do :) It can take awhile to come up with a meaningful theme together, but it's always worth the effort. My daughter was really into fairies this year, thanks to a sweet grandma and auntie gifting her some beautiful fairy books; but when this same grandma sent toadstool candles from Belgium for Christmas, I knew it couldn't be just a Fairy Party, but rather a Woodland Fairy Party :) They really are the cutest little things ever (Love that Dille & Kamille). You could really go crazy with this theme, especially if the outdoors were an option; but I kept things as simple as possible, using things from around my home as props. Plus, it kept costs down :)

I spotted these invitations on Etsy but found them too late :( I procrastinated on sending out invitations so there was no time for them to travel from Australia. I asked the seller if I could purchase the pdf of the invitation given the issue of time and she was gracious enough to say "yes". I hit Roberts and bought wooden spools, rounded tops, some red spray paint and a small container of white acrylic paint. Using a glue gun I adhered the spool and rounded top together and once those dried, I applied one coat of spray paint. Then, using the end of a paint brush we put little dots on the toadstools. The toadstools were so much fun to make I could've easily made 20 without blinking!

During the party we played simple old-fashioned games like "pass the pine cone" and spoon relays (while balancing a pine cone on the spoon). Since these were 8-year-old-craft-loving-girls we decorated star paper mache wands with glitter, jewel stickers, markers and ribbons. Besides eating the above-pictured treats, I also served a plate of veggie sticks. I'm always surprised at how many takers there are when it comes to eating healthy options too.

As far as party favors go, I am a big fan of gifting something meaningful and simple that doesn't cost more than $2. In the past I've found little wooden toys in the dollar aisle at Target, but this time I was able to put together a necklace for just $2 thanks to OTC and Ebay. After my daughter and I put the necklaces together I wrapped them in tissue paper and placed inside a muslin bag. The girls seemed pretty excited about them!

It's a little eerie...last year I was planning a Matroyshka party for my daughter and saw that you did it. This year I was planning on doing a woodlands party and you've done that! Can't wait to see what *we* come up with next year! ;)

wow, this is amazing! I'm definitely saving this one and praying that one day I have a little girl who would let me in indulge in throwing her a woodland fairy party! (I used to love fairies as a kid.)

I love it Steph! We recently finished a bedroom in our basement for the girls in a woodland fairy theme. These party ideas give me even more ideas for decorating down there. Thanks! Also, I'll have to steal this party idea in the future, it's darling.

also, i was wondering where you got your light above your table. i love it! and, would you mind emailing me the details on the local artist who made the bags? i was thinking about similar bags for an upcoming party!

Absolutely beautiful. I completely agree about giving something small and meaningful. There are too many small plastic toys in the world. I made necklaces for my daughter's birthday with crystal beads and ribbon I purchased at a bead show. The kids loved them because they were sparkly.

girlfriend, are you for real?! this is darling, amazing, fabulous. i want to come to sweet e's bday party next year...haha. you make me happy to have a baby girl...must start planning her first bday party - its only 10.5 months away! xoxoxo